machinate

1 to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends <a trio of courtiers who were discovered to be machinating against the queen> Synonyms collude, compass, connive, conspire, contrive, intrigue, plot, put up, schemeRelated Words counterplot; brew, concoct, cook (up), devise, hatch; engineer, jockey, maneuver, manipulate; design, frame, lay out, map, plan, shape

2 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care <the hackers machinated a way to steal credit numbers from the company's Web site> Synonyms contrive, finagle, finesse, frame, engineer, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangleRelated Words arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out; angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme; connive; brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch; captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run; gerrymanderNear Antonyms blow, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, gum (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), mishandle, muff